Preface: Originally written on June 17, 2007
Well, look at that. More than half of a year has passed since my last blog. Its been pretty hectic. Lots of changes - new team, temporary deputation to another location, lots of vacillation on various decisions. etc. The disturbing part of it is that I am not sure that I am wiser because of all the experience gleaned in those six months.
And oh yes - our team went out on another trip whose description does not waver one word from the previous one. The details are accurate even for the aftermath. I got a chance to observe the very same green feeling in an entirely new group of people (as my team has changed recently). This has prompted me to think a little more about the matter. My first assumption is that the feeling is generated only in expatriates and not in natives. I have anecdotal evidence for this assumption. I have a dual hypothesis. First is that the symbols of apparant enjoyment perused by them invoke a desire for enjoying the same things. This of course is the classic fertile ground for the feeling. The minutiae that is glossed over is that they wish to make no sacrifices for the enjoyment. They turn a Nelson's eye to the proverb about the feasibility of having a cake and consuming it. The observation of expatriates being succeptible is explained by the fact that they are familiar with the mode of enjoyment while natives are not. The weak point of this hypothesis is that it does not explain their conspicious display of the emotion, especially when such displays are in general regarded to be indications of imbecility. The second hypothesis actually is an extension of the first one. It seeks to explain the display by adding a few more facts. Since it is a given that expatriates enjoy a more materialistic life and are keenly aware of the efforts they have expended to achieve it, a sense of superiority is inevitable. (I do not mean to say that it is inevitable in every individual's case, but considering the issue statistically, I would be surprised if it does not exist in most.) Here is where I will take a huge leap of reason and postulate that most of they are aware of the said complex and in an effort to either further it and be condescending or being guilty about it and seeking to negate it, are openly jealous. If you are with me till here, I'll have to commend you for tenacity (or your willingness to set off on wild goose chases!). Oops ... running out of time. More later...
Monday, July 2, 2007
Winter
Preface: Originally written on November 21, 2006
The days are getting longer workwise and shorter timewise (well winter is setting in...). I am not very comfortable with winters. For one thing they ruin my sleep! It usually gets really cold in the wee hours of the morning and I have to get up to pull on an extra blanket! Getting up is a ordeal (the warm bed looks sooo inviting). The hot bath is a real lifesaver. And then the office. Yes - the office. I dont know who is incharge of the air conditioning but I am pretty sure that that person is an external observer. (unaffected by changes in temperature). Its ridiculous to have ac on full blast in the throes of winter. And no amount of complaining accomplishes anything. Dislike winter I may, but I would want to have it anyways because its only when you experience the unplesant that you learn to appreciate the better things.
At work my team went out for a whole-day outing last friday. It was long overdue actually. The usual things were done - cricket matches, splashes in the swimming pool, antakshari in the bus, dumb-charades, lots of pictures, good food etc and well - it was all paid for by the company so no damages to your purse! The usual ritual that follows it is the uploading all the evidence of the celebrations and apprising our counterparts at san fransisco of the antics. And they unfailingly get "jealous" and mention it in all meetings for weeks to come.
I have always been intrigued by this kind of jealousy that is displayed so openly. And the instigator is not just outings. Our having a few extra leaves every year is another source. The fact that our printouts are delivered to our desk is yet another. And there are many more petty issues invoke the green feeling. Taking the big picture into consideration I feel that a lot more of the feeling ought to be directed to other way round. And I think it is except that it is not voiced. The restraint on calling a spade a spade is palpable at times but has never failed. I guess its because its in no one's interest to strain relations so the matter is glossed over despite provocation. So much for international relations!
The days are getting longer workwise and shorter timewise (well winter is setting in...). I am not very comfortable with winters. For one thing they ruin my sleep! It usually gets really cold in the wee hours of the morning and I have to get up to pull on an extra blanket! Getting up is a ordeal (the warm bed looks sooo inviting). The hot bath is a real lifesaver. And then the office. Yes - the office. I dont know who is incharge of the air conditioning but I am pretty sure that that person is an external observer. (unaffected by changes in temperature). Its ridiculous to have ac on full blast in the throes of winter. And no amount of complaining accomplishes anything. Dislike winter I may, but I would want to have it anyways because its only when you experience the unplesant that you learn to appreciate the better things.
At work my team went out for a whole-day outing last friday. It was long overdue actually. The usual things were done - cricket matches, splashes in the swimming pool, antakshari in the bus, dumb-charades, lots of pictures, good food etc and well - it was all paid for by the company so no damages to your purse! The usual ritual that follows it is the uploading all the evidence of the celebrations and apprising our counterparts at san fransisco of the antics. And they unfailingly get "jealous" and mention it in all meetings for weeks to come.
I have always been intrigued by this kind of jealousy that is displayed so openly. And the instigator is not just outings. Our having a few extra leaves every year is another source. The fact that our printouts are delivered to our desk is yet another. And there are many more petty issues invoke the green feeling. Taking the big picture into consideration I feel that a lot more of the feeling ought to be directed to other way round. And I think it is except that it is not voiced. The restraint on calling a spade a spade is palpable at times but has never failed. I guess its because its in no one's interest to strain relations so the matter is glossed over despite provocation. So much for international relations!
The famous first entry...
Preface: The blog below was written on July 16, 2006.
Ah.. the famous first entry...
To be honest, I do not understand why people write blogs. What is their intention? I have known some people who write blogs about their newborns with lots of cute pictures in them so that anybody who is interested in the baby can do a quick check on the latest info, height, weight, teeth, smiles and abmulations of the baby. I agree that its a very good way of sharing information. And it serves and a sort of photo album with lots of extra features.
But what does the average gal/guy have to share with the world at large? Just declare that they exist? Do they do it because they have an excess of time on their hands? Do they hope to become journalists in the future? (hey that might be a reason). Or do they have stuff that they just want to unload onto the blog so as to lighten their minds? Or perhaps its some sort of an art thing - you know - art for art's sake - no purpose to the blog except to be. I have started this blog to discover the answer to the above question.
Ah.. the famous first entry...
To be honest, I do not understand why people write blogs. What is their intention? I have known some people who write blogs about their newborns with lots of cute pictures in them so that anybody who is interested in the baby can do a quick check on the latest info, height, weight, teeth, smiles and abmulations of the baby. I agree that its a very good way of sharing information. And it serves and a sort of photo album with lots of extra features.
But what does the average gal/guy have to share with the world at large? Just declare that they exist? Do they do it because they have an excess of time on their hands? Do they hope to become journalists in the future? (hey that might be a reason). Or do they have stuff that they just want to unload onto the blog so as to lighten their minds? Or perhaps its some sort of an art thing - you know - art for art's sake - no purpose to the blog except to be. I have started this blog to discover the answer to the above question.
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